Chapter 98 - Five Kingdoms and Thirteen Knights of the Oracle [5] (1/2)

98. Five Kingdoms and Thirteen Knights of the Oracle [5]

I quickly headed to the staff room, holding Ria and Rose under my arms.

The vice-director noticed me as I walked through the ajar room.

「Oh, Allen-kun! Thank god that you are safe… Ri-Ria-san? Rose-san?!」

His eyes widened at the sight of the unconscious two.

「Don’t worry. They’re just unconscious.」

「I-I see, that’s good. But to think even you would be so deeply wounded… The enemy must have been quite formidable.」

「Yes, it was a pretty close fight. By the way, I succeeded in destroying the barrier. How is the contact with the outside coming along?」

「Aa, that was done perfectly! The director will probably arrive in another five minutes. I’ve already contacted the Holy Knights Association, too. You’ve done really well, Allen-kun!」

「That’s reassuring.」

When Leia-sensei arrives, this fight will be ours.

(Yoshi, the fight is going to be over soon!)

In the meantime, I’ll do what I can.

「Well then, vice-director. I’m going to the president’s backup.」 I said, and tried to leave the room.

「No, Allen-kun. You should escape from here.」 the vice director grabbed me by the shoulder and said with a serious look.

「I received contact from one of the teachers who headed to the front lines. One of the『Thirteen Knights of the Oracle』was confirmed among the enemy. Even if it’s you, there is no way for you to win in that battered state!」

「…Thirteen Knights of the Oracle?」

Now that I think about it, I feel like Dodriel mentioned something like that in the middle of our fight.

「They are the top executives of the Black Organization. Each of them is a super-skilled swordsman equivalent to the power of a national force. And each one of them is said to possess strength of 『Director Class』.」

「S-Same rank as Leia-sensei?!」

「Yes. Fighting against the Thirteen Knights of the Oracle is like dealing with an entire nation. That’s why you should escape quickly, Allen-kun.」 the vice director said, putting his hand on my shoulder.

However, there is no way I can back down after knowing that.

「…In that case, I must definitely go.」

「Wha? Why!?」

「The president and others are still fighting against such a formidable enemy. And yet, I can’t just run away with my tail between my legs.」

My power is small.

However, “difference in numbers” has a big significance in a fight.

It’s better to have as many people as possible, even if it’s just one more.

「Thank you for your concern.」 I said and left the staff room.

「W-Wait Allen-kun… Dammit, Director… Please hurry.」

■

I ignored the vice-director’s warning and went to the schoolyard. An unbelievable scene spread before me.

「W-What… the hell…?!」

The whole place looked like a desolate wasteland and the students of Thousand Blade Academy lay defeated on the schoolyard.

And in the middle of all that, a tall, slender man stood, with an air of calmness surrounding him.

(This guy was the one…!)

Blood rushed to my head boiling with anger, but I immediately shook my head and regained composure.

And while entering into his sight, I carefully approached the fallen president.

「President, are you all right?」 I gently shook her shoulders.

「A-Allen-kun… Run away… You definitely can’t win… against that monster…」 she said, and lost consciousness.

(He’s that formidable, huh…)

A formidable swordsman to the extent where even the president, who absolutely hates to lose, said『definitely can’t win』.

Although it would be too much of a burden to take him on in my wounded state, I have no choice but to do it.

I’m the only swordsman who can still fight in Thousand Blade Academy.

If I were to run away, everyone in this place might be massacred.

(I have to stall for time somehow…)

I put together my thoughts, raised my guard to the maximum, and walked up to the perpetrator who caused this catastrophe.

「Did you do this?」

「Indeed. There were a lot of bugs. So I shook them off a little.」

「…Bugs, you say?」

The anger that I suppressed earlier has been reignited with my friends being called bugs.

「If I’m not mistaken… you’re Allen Rodore, right?」

「?!」

He knew my name for some reason.

「Don’t be surprised. I simply got information that there’s a child who is slightly capable.」

「…I see? It feels unpleasant to not know my opponent’s name when they do mine. Why don’t you name yourself?」

I managed to stretch the conversation and earn some time.

「Hmm, you have a point. I am one of the Thirteen Knights of the Oracle, Fu Rudras. Pleased to make your acquaintance from now on.」 he said, bowing slightly.

He seems to be the type of man who can be reasoned with.

Fu Rudras. He was about 190 centimeters tall. Long black hair stretched to the back. For a swordsman, he has a very thin body. He appeared to be in his early thirties. I got an intellectual impression from his deep, well-formed face. If only he didn’t have a sword, he’d look like an actual scholar. He wore a black cloak on top of his white noble clothes.

However, the outer cloak was engraved with a green pattern, which I think I have seen somewhere before. Perhaps this was a special garment allowed only to the executives.

「Are you aiming for Ria?」

「Ria…? Aa, come to think of it… that’s the name of the current generation’s Fafnir’s host, isn’t it?」 he put his hand to his chin, as though recalling his memory.

「Fafnir’s『host』…?」

「Yes. We’re collecting phantom spirits including Fafnir. We don’t really care about the girl. All we need is the content inside.」

「”Phantom Spirit”? “Content”? What do you mean?」 I tilted my head to the series of unfamiliar words.

「Hmm… I don’t mind talking about it and I quite like young people with intellectual curiosity. I’d like to slowly talk over a cup of tea, but, unfortunately, I don’t have the time right now. Let’s do it when we get another opportunity.」

Then, Fu held up a rapier-like thin sword and exuded a dense bloodlust. It felt almost suffocating just standing in his presence.

「Wha?!」

「What’s the matter? Aren’t you going to assume your stance, Allen Rodore?」

And when my opponent said that, I realized for the first time, that I was standing defenceless.

「Kuh… HAAAAAAAAAAA!」

I scraped up the remaining spiritual power in my body and clad myself in dense darkness.

I was able to restore my spiritual power slightly by resting my body for a short while

(I can hold out… for another couple minutes…)

The moment I assumed Seigan no Kamae,

「Where are you looking?」

「Wha?!」

Fu was behind me.

「-Shi!」

「……」

He unleashed a merciless blow aimed towards the base of my neck.

I kicked the ground sideways and dodged by a hair’s breadth.

「Hou, that was quite the reaction speed.」

Witnessing the attack without any hesitation in『killing』, I felt the difference in the『number of battles』and『experience』between us.

(If I keep defending, I’ll be killed…)

Offense is the best defense.

I dropped my center of gravity and closed the distance with my fastest speed.

「Eighth Sword – Yatagarasu!」

「-Wind Wall」

The Yatagarasu I unleashed with all my strength was stopped by an invisible wall.

「What?!」

「Don’t show discomposure during a battle – Wind Cut」

At that moment, a dreadful『gust』shot through my abdomen.

「Ga, ha!」